eksperimenteering

Eksperimenteering is the practice of planning, conducting, and evaluating controlled tests to investigate questions, test hypotheses, or develop new solutions. The term is used in Afrikaans and Dutch contexts and is understood in English-language discussions as the activity of experimentation. It covers formal scientific work as well as applied testing in industry, design, education, and the arts.

Etymology: from Latin experimentum, via Dutch and Afrikaans, with the suffix -ering to denote the ongoing activity. The word reflects the historical rise of the modern scientific method and a focus on evidence-based inquiry.

In science and research, eksperimenteering involves formulating hypotheses, designing experiments with controls, collecting data, and analyzing results to draw conclusions. In technology and product development, it is often iterative, using prototyping, simulations, and A/B testing to compare alternatives and guide decisions. In education, experimentation supports inquiry-based learning, while in the arts, it can mean testing new media, processes, or ideas to push creative boundaries.

Key characteristics include defined variables, replication, careful documentation, and attention to ethics and safety. The practice is inherently iterative: hypotheses are refined, methods adjusted, and conclusions updated as new evidence becomes available.